Alberta’s PARK gives major boost to province’s fashion industry, designers
It may come as a surprise to many living outside of Alberta that Wild Rose Country is actually a thriving hub of fashion and design, thanks in no small part to the efforts of grassroots organization PARK. Short for Promoting Arts Redefining Kulture, PARK was founded in 2008 by president Kara Chomistek and vice president Jessie Li. Inspired by the Los Angeles yard sales held by party photographer the Cobrasnake, the two decided to organize a market at the University of Calgary where 50 or so designers, artists and makers from across the province gathered to sell their wares. “It was really more an ideology and a concept and brainstorming of how we could keep creative talent at home,” says Chomistek.